"I am sorry. I will never do it again"

Urged by Sion Rena came here, and saying so quickly bowed her head. Seeing that it's clear she's reflecting, and that she understands that Freed and Sion came to an agreement, there's nothing more for me to say.

Freed also generously nodded, and smiling same as me, with just the words "Enough" he finished.

Like this somehow the talk was settled, and for today we decided to return to the Royal Castle.

Unfortunately, looks like I'll have to visit Ms. Delris another time.

Still, not wanting the youkan I had specially prepared to go to waste, I decided to ask Cain.

"Sorry. I'm at fault, but could you bring this youkan to Ms. Delris? It's a new work. I'll go and visit her another day. Tell her I'm sorry about today"

"Got it. Well, it couldn't be helped today. I think granny also knows that"

Saying so, Cain looked up towards the sky. When I followed his gaze, I understood a crow I recognized was circling in the sky.

It's Ms. Delris's familiar. When that crow noticed my gaze, it flew away just like that.

"It's true… As expected of Ms. Delris"

She's not called a witch just for show. Feeling relieved, I handed the gift to Cain, and told him to convey my greetings.

To be honest, I wanted to bring it to her myself, but as expected of this situation, I can't just raise my hand saying "Well, that's how it is" and leave.

Even the me who can't read the air understands that much.

Promising to find the time to talk later, Cain went towards Ms. Delris's house.

After seeing him off, I turned to Freed waiting near.

"I've kept you waiting"

"No, it's fine… I feel apologetic towards the witch"

"When I looked up just now, her familiar was flying around, so I think she understands the situation. I also handed the gift to Cain. I'll go there on another opportunity"

"I understand. Then, shall we go back, Lidi"

"Yup"

With Freed leading me by the hand, we went towards the middle gate together.

We'll get into the carriage that's waiting at the middle gate and go back.

Sion and Rena aren't here. We're alone.

He went to the inn to get his luggage, and will go to the Royal Castle later.

Sion buoyantly said "My travelling expenses were running out, so I am saved", but I think it's absolutely a lie. There's no way he'd fail at planning like that.

That's why we parted from them as they immediately went to get their luggage, and I and Freed went back to the Royal Castle first.

When we returned to the carriage, the knights who were standing by stared at Freed in wonder.

"Eh… Huh? Y, Your Highness!? Why are you here? There should be no plans for you going out today…"

Thanks to his black hair, they couldn't tell who he was for an instant.

But, once the knights saw Freed's face, they immediately realized it's him.

"I just came to pick up my fiancée. We're going back"

"… Yes"

The knights nodded to Freed's words and respectfully opened the carriage doors.

The two of us sat down nestled closed to each other in the carriage. Freed isn't saying anything.

Honestly, I found it ominous.

… Honestly, I don't know what I should do.

When we return to his room, I will surely be asked all sorts of things. It's a matter of course, especially now that he's got a connection with Cain.

Things like how I noticed that Sion is the tactician, I'm getting a stomach ache thinking I'll be suspected.

After all, I don't know how I should answer.

I can't think of an explanation that will satisfy Freed.

The reason I realized Sion is the Tarim tactician was originally tactics from my previous life. And because I had been acquainted with Senpai.

That's pretty much everything.

As Cain said, his surname is not enough to conclude that he's the tactician, so Freed shouldn't be convinced either. You can conclude that he was an important person in Tarim, but not that he was the tactician.

Because unlike Freed I didn't know the tactician absconded from Tarim. There are too few reasons to make the connection that the singer=tactician.

No matter how I look at it, I have to gloss over it. On the other hand, I don't want to lie.

I promised not to lie to Freed, and I myself don't want to do it.

While I was at a complete loss with my thoughts going round and round, the carriage arrived at the Royal Castle.

Without reaching a conclusion, I forcibly moved my heavy feet.

Uu… What should I do.

s.h.i.+t, should I just leave it to chance?

With such a feeling I all but gave in to despair, but for some reason when we returned to his room Freed didn't ask anything.

Just, as soon as we entered the room, I was strongly hugged.

"Don't worry so much"

I was only weakly rebuked like that.

After that Freed returned to work, and when he came back in the evening, he only fell asleep hugging me closely.

… What the h.e.l.l happened to Freed?

I didn't say it aloud, but I received a huge shock.

It's that ridiculous that he didn't do anything.

Even though I was looking forward to the exhausting s.e.x called absolute punishment.

I wonder if I'm strange to be thinking that.

It was a complete letdown.

How could he just hug me and go to sleep.

Sadly, on the contrary I can't sleep.

Surely it's only today. Tomorrow he should be back to usual.

I thought so, yet his strange behavior continued.

I haven't been embraced by him for only a few days, but because it was almost natural to do it every single day, not being embraced feels just a little strange.

A sigh escaped me as I noticed Freed's marks of owners.h.i.+p, that he put on like it was a daily routine, started lonesomely fading.

Really, what's up with Freed.

Nevertheless, since I haven't been asked anything or embraced since then, conversely I strangely started feeling apologetic towards him.

At first I had no intention of talking about my past life, and was only thinking of how to avoid it, but as Freed wouldn't question me, I came to think it'd be better if I talked about my previous life.

… But… Right.

I haven't yet consulted with Ms. Delris.

Would Freed really believe if I suddenly confessed that I have memories of my previous life.

It's not that I doubt him, but I'm hesitant since I've never told anyone.

I continue uncharacteristically worrying.

Since then, Sion came to the castle as planned, and was given a guest room in the general area to stay. Of course, he's together with that beastman child Rena.

Because Rena insisted on taking care of Sion, she seems to have been allowed to do as she likes.

Listening to Brother's talk about his room arrangement, I became concerned about his situation. However, it's not really because he's my ex-boyfriend. I simply wanted to once confirm with my eyes how he feels here and if there are any inconveniences.

As for Cain, he came to visit me frequently without any concern. I normally call out to him even during daytime. He's been recognized by Freed, so it seems to be a great relief for Cain too. Still, for the time being, we decided to keep him a secret from everybody aside of Freed. This is also what Cain wants.

"Sorry Princess"

In the afternoon of a day when we finally had enough time, Cain said so and formally bowed his head to me.

"Err, about what? "

"Without getting Princess's permission I got in touch with the Crown Prince of my own accord. I don't regret it, however it's the fact I did without saying anything to Princess. My bad"

As Cain sincerely apologized, I also said to him.

"Then I'm sorry too. When I spotted Sion, I didn't listen as Cain tried to stop me. Nevertheless, it was extremely rea.s.suring having you escort me later"

"… Princess is my master, so you don't need to apologize for that. Besides, I wasn't escorting alone since the middle. The Crown Prince was with me"

Imagining him hiding together with Cain, my mouth loosened.

That conspicuous Freed hiding so that n.o.body can find him might be a slightly interesting sight.

Noticing that I smiled, Cain too raised the corners of his mouth as if drawn in.

"I joined up with him at that curry shop. When I said Princess is having a meal together with a man, he rushed there. I was surprised, since I absolutely didn't think he'd come"

"I was surprised as well"

Hearing he leapt there in a fl.u.s.ter, I felt more happy than annoyed.

Looking at my face, Cain sighed.

"Really, Princess's face is easy to understand. Well, that's fine"

"I, I wonder"

I have no idea myself.

As I reflexively held my cheeks, the door opened and Freed came it.

Looking there, Cain said.

"Ah, the husband has returned. Then, call me if there's anything else"

"Y, yup"

He's already unashamed. Freed too didn't say anything.

Seeing Cain leave the room, he came to me.

"I'm back, Lidi"

"W, welcome back"

He smooched me on a cheek.

I found it unsatisfactory.

Just a little while before he'd give me a deep French kiss that left me amazed, and it wasn't rare for him to push me down. And yet suddenly he's holding back from touching me, I have no idea what he's thinking.

Although I have no idea, it feels good inside his arms hugging me, so it's not like physical contact disappeared.

He still kisses me on a cheek and hugs me, so I think it'd be strange to expressly point that out, in the end I couldn't ask.

Sitting on the sofa, we talked about our days.

It was a coincidence, but for the first time in a while Sion came up, so while at it I tried asking.

"Now that you mention Sion, he's already in the Royal Palace, isn't he… I wonder if I could meet him once?"

I may have said that, but I was almost sure I'd be refused.

As the Crown Prince he made a decision to welcome Sion, but as Freed I remember him burning with jealousy towards Sion.

When Sion reached out his hand, he only warned him to "Get away". He must not want him to get close to me.

For some reason, he isn't jealous of Cain, but it's different towards Sion.

If Freed actually knew he's my ex-boyfriend, I'm certain it'd be terrible. I shudder just from imagining it… Yup, no matter what happens I will never say that alone.

That's why I resigned myself to being refused, but Freed readily nodded.

He was even smiling.

"… Fine. He's staying in a guest room in the general area, so you can meet whenever you want. He must be bored as well, so won't he be happy"

"Eh… Can I?"

I absolutely didn't expect such an answer, so in my surprise I asked him again, but Freed's answer remained unchanged.

"Of course… I believe he is a trustworthy man"